need answers please

hi i have  questions one is why must a dentist know what medicines i am
on for my heart
my atenolol says tell my dentist is there a harm going to the dentist.
second question is it normal to hear your heart beat in your head
sometimes i hear and feel my heart beating in my head not so
much since i am on atenolol.  also i heard drinking a glass a wine
could help raise my hdl level but is ok to drink wine while on
several medicines for the heart i am on atenolol zocor and k-dur
plus an aspirin   thanks for any answers

[ccf cardio jmf md]

Dear Tim,

It is important for your dentist to understand your cardiac history and medications  due to potential interactions between anesthetics and medications.

this is standard practice and should be of no concern.

As far as the feeling of heartbeats in your head, this is common particularly with extra beats and is of no concern.

As far as alcohol, this should be done in moderation particularly if there is a concern of irregular heart beats. a 1 or 2 drink limit is reasonable.

[Greg]

no harm in going to the dentist...just make sure to let him know
that your taking a beta blocker for the purpose of anestetics. i "hear" my heartbeat all the time. stay away from alcohol if you are taking the beta blocker for a rythm problem, alcohol will only make things worse. (especially red wine which is notorious for having extra "goodies" in it that could contribute)

[Whatworksforme]

Some people with heart problems need to be on antibiotics before certain dental work is done, although it seems like your doctor should tell you if that is true with you.

I take sotalol (a beta blocker--for arrhythmia), zocor, aspirin, hormones, and was told I have a two-drink limit.  I find no ill effects as long as I stick to the limit--if I overdo it, I won't feel good the next day--a lot of PVCs.

[Glen Barth]

I was just dignosed with arterial flutter.  This posponed cateriac surgery.  What is arterial flutter.  How is it treated?
Thank you,
Glen Barth

[Glen Barth]

I was just dignosed with arterial flutter.  This posponed cateriac surgery.  What is arterial flutter.  How is it treated?
Thank you,
Glen Barth

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear tim,

Your dentist is part of the medical team that takes care of you and for this reason it is important to let him/her know what medications you are taking.  Some medications, such as coumadin, must be stopped or reduced prior to dental procedures.  Atenolol generally does not interfer with dental work but it is a good idea to let your dentist know all your medications anyways.

It is normal to be able to hear one's own heart beat.  It is often especially prominant at night.

Red wine (1/2 glass per day)has been shown to increase HDL (good) cholesterol but the current recommendations are not to start drinking if you do not currently drink alcohol.  Your doctor or pharmacist can give you specific warnings about drug and alcohol interactions for your particular situation.

[tim thank you]

thanks everyone for the info.

[SHIRLEY MIZE]

HOW SOON AFTER THE INITIAL CATHERIZATION CAN A STENT BE PLACED

[Alex]

Hi I'm working on a research and I need to know how Caffeine affects human heart rate.

[Peter Polley]

Hi, I would very much like to know more about having a pacemaker fitted. I have had both the aortic and mytril valves replaced in 1983 and again 1986. I also suffered an M I in 1985 which affected the left posterier chamber of the heart and was put on medication but after a while I was considered well enough to stop taking all except the Warfarin. I continued to do well untill 1994 when my heart rate started to race at about 160 per min and was given a cardio version shock to slow the rate down. I also needed to start back on medication which included Digoxin, I remained well with only minor problems untill July 1999. Then the Digoxin was putting me into Heart failure with heart rate of 25 /35 per min. I was taken off them and remained reasonable well untill about 6 weeks ago when I became very breathless and was again put on Digoxin and Spirolactone, along with other drugs. I was on vacation in Europe 2 weeks ago and was admitted to hospital with kidney imparment which they told me was due to the tablets. I also had a Dig level in my blood of 6.23 when it should have been between 04.00 to 2.50, so they have taken me off them.  Myself and my wife have asked about having a pacemaker fitted to control the heart rate but have been told that it would NOT help as they ONLY control FAST RATES. I actually have met someone that had his fitted for a SLOW RATE but at that time I did not ask him anything about it as I never thought I would need one, but now we are thinking differently. Please if you could tell me your opionion on this or anything about the workings of a pacemaker and I would be more than happy to email you a more in depth medical history if you so require. Thanks in advance Peter.

[kitty kat]

If my heart stops beating what will happen ?? it is ver urgenty

[Amy to Peter Polley]

I'm curious to know how many mg of Digoxin you were/are taking.  My doc has me on .25mg/day, and so far, I haven't had any problems.  He tells me that it is very safe and that there are no risks for kidney failure unless I already have kidney problems.  The only negative effect I can tell from the Digoxin is that my near-sightedness has gotten a little worse.  I'll be taking the med the rest of my life, which I hate, but it really does help keep my heart rate stable.

Thanks for your comments.

[Jesus from (Mexico)]

my mother has 68 years and for but from 40 years suffers arthritis reumatoide
the case is the following has stenosis mitral
severe of .5cm2 the doctors say that is are not being
competent for operation many less for a valvuloplasty the
truth no longer that to make the medicine of the treatment
are [anticoagulants]and  [metoprolol] , that create that exists by
to make , exists  medicine that stop that closing
to them the valvula mitral or that was passing
the day that close up to her them completely

sorry , my english no is very good

I hope can help me soon

[Mitch]

I am taking Atenolol for tachycardia.  Is it possible that depression could be a side affect of Atenolol?  I missed taking Atenolol for two days in a row and didn't have the feeling of depression until I started taking it again.  Other than fatigue, the depression is the only other side affect that I have noticed.  

Thanks for any information you have on side affects.

[Laura to Peter]

Pacemakers are implanted to "fill in" the slow or missing beats.  They cannot control the fast beats.  You may be a little confused with an ICD.. implantable cardiac defribrillator.  They help control fast beats and also have pacemaker.  ICD's are used to shock the heart back into rhythm.  Talk with your cardiologist and ask him for some more patient teaching.

[a friend to mitch]

Depression is a known side affect of atenolol.  You can check it out on drkoop.com  .

[Melanie Pickard]

I underwent surgery last May for a replacement prosthetic aortic valve. The surgery was completely sucessful and i now take 3mg of warfarin daily to maintain an INR value between 2 and 3 (generally between 2.5 and 3.0)

I have been considering preganancy and have been told to consider the risks to myself and to an unborn child in light of continuing with my warfarin or going on heparin (the haematologist has advised me against heparin due to the risk of clotting around my valve. However, I ama bit confused about the risks to a baby in relation to the effects of warfarin.

It has been suggested that warfarin pregancies can be managed with no more risk to a baby than in a normal preganacy (pregnancy), is this the case?

I would ask for your views? Perhaps it would be better to adopt?

Hope to hear soon

[Melanie Pickard]

I underwent surgery last May for a replacement prosthetic aortic valve. The surgery was completely sucessful and i now take 3mg of warfarin daily to maintain an INR value between 2 and 3 (generally between 2.5 and 3.0)

I have been considering preganancy and have been told to consider the risks to myself and to an unborn child in light of continuing with my warfarin or going on heparin (the haematologist has advised me against heparin due to the risk of clotting around my valve. However, I ama bit confused about the risks to a baby in relation to the effects of warfarin.

It has been suggested that warfarin pregancies can be managed with no more risk to a baby than in a normal preganacy (pregnancy), is this the case?

I would ask for your views? Perhaps it would be better to adopt?

Hope to hear soon

[Laura Best]

I am scheduled to have weightloss surgery 5/10.  My surgeon did and EKG which showed some irregularity.  He is now requesting I have a Presenting Thalium Scan.  What is this scan?  What is the area involved.

email-***@****

[Don Hopf]

I have been trying to find the letter from Peter, he had a rapid heart beat or a skip when he would swallow. I have this same problim and would like to find out more if I can. Don
E-mail
***@****

[Don Hopf]

I have been trying to find the letter from Peter, he had a rapid heart beat or a skip when he would swallow. I have this same problim and would like to find out more if I can. Don
E-mail
***@****

[kim]

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